Refrigerating apparatus



April 6.l 1943. N 1, SMITH 5,667

REFRIGEHATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 28, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l f l N V TOR. MW Q. BY s Y April 6, 1943. N. J. SMITH REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 28, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IMS@ 6N Patented Apr. 6, 1943 2,315,667 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Nelson J. Smith, Dayton, Ohio, assigfnor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a cor-l poration of Delaware Application February 28, 1940,`Serial No. 321,294

Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus, and particularly to means for controlling the direction of discharge of air from an air circulating or conditioning apparatus.

When circulating air within a room, for coollng or Ventilating the same, it is often desirable that the direction of flow of the stream of air be changed in order to meet altered conditions within the room. This is often necessary due to a change in the location of various major pieces of furniture, which altered arrangement requires that the stream of air be changed in )rder to prevent direct contact of the air circulatng Within the room upon a person occupying the :hanged location of the object of furniture.

It is thus an object of this invention to provide n air deliecting means which may be readily hanged so as to alter the direction of fiow of air caving an air conditioning or circulating apparaus, without necessitating the removal or alteraion of the apparatus in any way.

It is also an object of the invention to provide `n air iiow directing means which is built into n air circulating or conditioning apparatus, the perating mechanism of which is concealed by wall thereof, to alter the position of the air ow irecting means by movement of a projecting ianipulating means.

It is still another object of the invention to rovide an air deflecting grille structure having a lurality of angularly positioned air deflecting anes, which grille is rotatably mounted within 1e path of a stream of air to cause deection of 1e air in various directions upon rotation of the fille, and to provide means for rotating the grille `ructure by the use of an exposed manipulator b which may comprise one of the supporting ements for the rotating grille structure.

Further objects and advantages of the present .vention will be apparent from the following deription, reference being had to the accompanyg drawings, wherein a preferred form of the esent invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an air circulating conditioning apparatus showing therelative :ations of the air deiiecting means and the opating manipulator for the deflecting means;

Fig. 2 `is a top plan view of the air deflecting `d operating apparatus taken just below a suprting wall for the apparatus and substantially mg line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line -3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-,4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a view of an air conditioning or circulating apparatus, shown somewhat diagrammatically, in which the air deiiecting means is used.

In this invention, I have provided an air deecting grille structure which may be supported adjacent an air discharge aperture of an air circulating or conditioning apparatus in such a manner that the grille structure may be readily rotated by means of a projecting manipulator knob to alter the direction of flow or air leaving the air circulating or conditioning apparatus. I have shown my air deiiecting grille means as being used in conjunction with a self-contained air conditioning apparatus.

The air conditioning or circulating apparatus comprises a cabinet or housing 20 which is subdivided into an air cooling compartment 2|, a compressor compartment 22 and a condenser compartment 23. Air from the room which is being conditioned is drawn into the cooling compartment 2| through an opening 24 positioned in the side Wall of the housing 20. The air is caused to be drawn over a cooling coil or evaporator 25 by means of a fan 26 driven by an electric motor 26a and is discharged into the compartment 2|, which compartment provides a plenum chamber from which the air may discharge into the room through the air defiecting grille 35.

The air being drawn through the cooling coil 25, by means of the fan 26, is cooled in its passage through the cooling coil by the vaporization of liquid refrigerant within the same. The vaporized refrigerant is withdrawn from the evaporator by means of a compressor 2l through a conduit 21a. The gaseous refrigerant is compressed within the compressor 21, in a manner well known in the art, and is discharged therefrom through a conduit 28a to a condenser 28 wherein the compressed refrigerant is condensed and liquefied. The liqueed refrigerant is conducted from the condenser 28 to the evaporator 25 by means oi a conduit 29. To control the rate of ow of liquid refrigerant from the condenser 28 to the evaporator 25, a liquid expansion control device is interposed within the conduit 29 and may consist of a fixed restrictor 30, small bore tube.

In order to cool the condenser 28, a fan 3| is provided for circulating air over the condenser. The fan 3| is power operated by means of a motor 32. To obtain air for circulating over the which may comprise ai the Wall condenser 26, a duct 33 is provided which has one end in open communication with a source of air exterior of the room within which the air conditioning or circulating apparatus is positioned and has the opposite end in communication with the chamber 23a, which is on the suction side of the fan 3|. The exterior air is drawn through the duct 33 into the chamber 23a and discharged into the condenser chamber 23 by the ian 3|, thereby forcing the air to pass over theV condenser 28 and be discharged from the chamber 2l through a duct 34 leading from the chamber 23 to the exterior of the room within which the air conditioning apparatus is positioned.

The air deflecting grille 35 is provided with a plurality of air deecting vanes 36. These vanes 36 are positioned at an angle with'respect to the direction of now of the stream of air in the path of which they are positioned, to cause the air to be deflected from a straight path of travel. The varies 36 are mounted in substantially parallel arrangement upon a plurality of rods 31, thereby providing a grille structure. The ends of some of the rods 31 are bent downwardly as at 36 and are attached to a circular track 39, whereby the grille 35 will be supported upon a circular track which may be suitably mounted to permit rotation of the grille 35.

The circular track 39 is rotatably mounted upon a three-point suspension which comprises a roller 40 which has a iixed position, a roller 4| which also has a xed position, and a roller 42 which is pivotally mounted in such Aa manner as to permit pressure to be applied by the roller 42 against the track 39 in order to cause the track to irictionally engage the rollers 46, 4| and 42, thereby suspending the grille between the rollers adjacent the circulating room air discharge aperture of the air circulating or conditloning apparatus. 'Ihe rollers 40, 4I and 42 are fabricated from a material, such as rubber, which will provide a good friction contact surface beu tween the rollers and the track. The roller 40, which comprises one point of suspension for the track 39, is also tobe used as a manipulating knob to cause rotation of the grille 35 when desired. The rollers 40 and 4| have a iixed position adjacent the circulating room air discharge aperture of the air circulating or conditioning apparatus and are supported by means of brackets 43 and 44 which are spotwelded, or attached by other suitable means, to 45 of the air circulating or conditioning apparatus. The roller 42 is supported upon an arm 46 which in turn is pivotally supported at 41 to the bracket 48. The bracket 46 is spotwelded, or otherwise suitably attached, to the wall 45 of the air conditioning or circulating apparatus.

The roller 42 is mounted upon one end of the arm 46 on one-side of the pivot 41. The end of the lever 46 on the opposite side of the pivot 41 from the roller 42,is attached to one end of a tension spring 49. The opposite end of the tension spring 49 is attached to a bracket 50, which bracket is spot-welded or otherwise suitably attached to the wall 45 of the air circulating or conditioning apparatus. The spring 49 exertsa pull upon one end of the lever 46, 'tending to cause rotation of the roller 42 about the pivot 41, thereby forcing the roller 42 against the track 35 of the grille structure 35.

Each oi the rollers 40, 4| and 42 is provided with a recessed portion I in which the track 39 will ride and be retained in frictional engagefill ment with the rollers. Since the roller 42 is a1- ways exerting a force against one side of the circular track 39, and since the track is also always in engagement with the rollers and 4|, it is seen that a three-point suspension for the track 39 is provided by frictional engagement with the rollers 40, 4| and 42 and which will permit rotation of the track 39 between the rollers 40, 4I and 42 when one of the rollers is rotated.

The pivot 41 for the roller 42 comprises the pivot pin 41, upon the shank of which the roller is mounted. The threaded end 52 of the pivot 41 is of reduced diameter from the remainder of the shank portion thereof, thereby providing a shoulder 53 which abuts against the arm 46 to space the pin 41 in such a manner as to permit rotation of the roller 42 upon the pin 41. The upper end 52 of the pin 41 is threaded to receive a nut 54 t0 retain the pin in position upon the arm 46.

The roller 4| is provided with a similar pivot and attaching means 55 for suspending the roller from the bracket 44 and to permit rotation of the roller 4|.

The roller 40, which provides one of the points of suspension for the track 39, and which is also a part of the manipulating knob 60, consists of a ring 6! fabricated from a material, such as rubber, which will provide a good friction surface for the track 39. The ring is attached to a flanged cup-shaped member 62 by vulcanization or other suitable means. This cup-shaped member 62 is provided with a centra1 opening therein, through which a stud 63 is positioned. A circular disc 64, having a knurled edge 64a, is positioned adjacent the bottom face of the cup-shaped member 62. The stud 63 also extends through a central opening provided in the disc 64, the stud 63 being provided with an enlarged shoulder 65 upon the upper end thereof which engages the face of the disc 64. The stud 63 is threaded to receive a nut 66 which, when tightened upon the cup-shaped member 62, will draw the shoulder 65 against the disc 64 to force the same into contact with the cup-shaped member 62, thereby rigidly attaching the disc 64 to the cup-shaped member 62. and

A pivot pin 61 having an enlarged head 66 extends centrally through the stud 63, the end of the stud resting upon the head 68 of the pivot pin 61. The pivot pin 61 is provided with a smooth shank portion which will provide a bearing surface to `permit rotation of the stud 63 upon the pin 61 and thus will permit rotation of the roll 40 and the disc 64. VThe pivot pin 61 is also provided with a reduced end Aportion 69 which is threaded to receive a nut 10. The reduced end portion 69, thereby, provides a shoulder 1| upon the pin 61 which will permit the pin to be rigidly fastened to the bracket 43 by the nut 10, thus supporting the roller 40 and the disc 64 upon the bracket 43.

A semi-circular decorative housing 15 is adapted to cover and protect a major portion of the roller 40. vThis housing 15 is attached to the bracket 43 by means of the bolts 16. The housing 15, however, is provided with a slot 11 through which the knurled edge portion 64a of the disc 64 may extend, thereby providing means whereby the disc 64 may be engaged by the iinger of an operator in order to rotate the disc 64 and thus the roller 40.

Since the grille 35 and the supporting rollers 46, 4| and 42 are all mounted behind a Wall 45,

thus to the roller 40.

and concealed from View, it is evident that, it is necessary to provide some means of access to thc manipulator knob 6U so that the knurled edge portion 64a of the disc 64 may be engaged by an operator to causerotation of the roller 40 and thus rotate the grille to alter the position of the air directing vanes 36 of the grille 35.

To provide for access to the manipulating knob 60. a small hinged door 80 is provided'in the wall 45 of the air circulating or conditioning apparatus. As will be -noted in Fig. 1` wherein the door 8D is shown in open position to permit, access to the manipulating knob G0, a portion of the manipulating knob 60 is exposed when the door 80 is in the open position. and particularly that por tion of the manipulating' knob which consists of the housing 'l5 and the slot 'l1 through which the knurled edge 64a of the disc 64 extends to permit engagement by the finger of an operator. A small direction arrow 85 is attached to the surface of the grille 35 to indicate the position of the grille and the direction the ow of air' from the grille will take, due to the position of the grille.

By the use of this invention, it is soon that I have provided a completely concealed mechanism for causing rotation of an air deecting grille structure and one which may be rotated by fingertip control to vary or change the direction of ilow of air from an air circulating or conditionmg apparatus in an infinite number of directions. This is particularly advantageous in that it will permit an air circulating or conditioning apparatus to be positioned in any part of a room and to permit air circulation from the air circulating or conditioning unit at any angle desired.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. An air conditioner including a cabinet having a Wall provided with a discharge aperture, air conditioning means within said cabinet, air circulating means for drawing air into the cabinet passing it through the air conditioning means and discharging it through said aperture, and adjustable air directing means comprising a grille having a plurality of air directing venes, a track for supporting said grille, a plurality of spaced rollers in engagement with the outer periphery of said track and including means for rotatably supporting said track and said grille adjacent said aperture, a xed pivot for one of said rollers, a floating pivot for another of said rollers, means for biasing said oating .pivot radially toward the center of said grille, and manipulatingr means having a driving engagement with said track to cause rotation of said grille upon operation of said manipulating means.

2. An air conditioner including a cabinet having a wall provided with a discharge aperture. air conditioning means within said cabinet, air circulating means for drawing air into the cabinet passing it through the air conditioning means and discharging it through said aperture, and adjustable air directing meanscomprising a grille having a lplurality of air directing vanes, a circular track for supporting Said grille. a plurality of roller means in engagement with the outer periphery oi said track and including means for rotatably supporting said track and said grillo adjacent said aperture, a first of said roller means providing a. manipulating means having a dri\'- ing engagement. with said track to cause rotation of said grille upon operation of said manipulating means, and another of said roller means including spring means exerting pressure radially towards the center of the grille for biasing said track means into engagement with said iirst roller means.

3. Air fiow directing means for controlling,y the direction ol flow of a stream ot" air including a grille adapted to be interposed into a flowing stream ofair and provided with a plurality of vanes positioned at an angle with respect to the 'direction of ow of air passing through the grille, said vanes deecting the air from a straight path of travel when passing through said grille, means for suspending said grille to permit adjustment thereof, comprising a pair of spaced rollers in engagement with the outer periphery of said track and having xe'd pivots and a third roller in en gagement with the outer periphery of said track and having a floating pivot, manipulating means ior one of said rollers for causing adjustment of said grille upon operation oi said manipulating means. and means for biasing said third roller radially towards the center of said grille so as to bias said grille into engagement with said pair of spaced rollers.

4. Air grille means adapted to direct the flow of air through an opening in a wall comprising in combination, air deflectng means, a frame for said air deflecting means including a. circular element, means for adjustably supporting said frame on said wall comprising a plurality of spaced rollers and pivots for said rollers supported by said wall, said rollers being arranged to radially engage said circular element and constituting means for rotatably support-ing said circular element, at least one of said rollers having a fixed pivot, and at least one of said rollers having a floating pivot, means for biasing said floating pivot radially with respect to the center of said circular element so as to maintain said circular element and said rollers in engagement with one another, and manipulating means for producing rotation of said circular element.

5. Air grille means adapted to direct the flow of air through an opening in a. wall comprising in combination, air deflecting means, a frame for said air deecting means including a circular element, means for adjustably supporting said frame on said Wall comprising a plurality of spaced rollers supported by said wall and arranged in engagement with the outer periphery of said circular element and constituting means for rotatably supporting said circular element, a xed pivot for one of said rollers, a floating pivot for another of said rollers, means for biasing said floating pivot radially towards the center of said circular element, and manipulating means for producing rotation of said circular element, said rollers comprising the sole means for supporting said circular element.

NELSON J. SMITH. 

